Sunday, February 1, 2009

Support Groups

By Ken P Doyle

It can be extremely difficult for a person suffering from bipolar mania to cope with the illness and function in their daily lives as well as their social relationships. The hopeless feeling and lack of interest in life the depression brings is crippling to the patient. Many patients commit suicide in the depression stage of bipolar.

However, the opposite of depression is the mania stage which is an extremely high ecstatic feeling. The patient usually talks a lot, is overly excited, and may have an impractical view of his/her own abilities. The patient can be a danger to themselves or others during this stage as this rush of energy and state of excitement can lead to reckless behavior.

Support groups are able to help bipolar patients with their excessive mood swings. Here, they are able to interact socially with others who have the same problems and discuss their own experiences along with ways of trying to deal with them. For people with bipolar, it is useful to learn how others cope with their mania, depression and other problems.

It also shows a patient that they are not alone in the struggle to live and function with the disorder. You can gain hope for recovery, find motivation to keep following your treatment plan and learn to look forward to a brighter future with the support of others.

Substance Abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse is not uncommon among bipolar mania sufferers. They do this in an effort to control their episodes. This only makes the problems worse and in turn, complicates treatment. Under the guidance of a professional or moderator in group therapy, the substance abuse problems are dealt with. Finding the right treatment for your case is particularly important.

When joining a support group, it will not only help with the substance abuse, but also with other issues associated with the disease. For any treatment plan that deals with bipolar mania, the support group is one of the best. They offer both moral and emotional support which is a big help for the feelings of isolation that bipolar patients face. Do make friends that will be there in the future if youre having problems.

Online Support Groups

There are also online support groups that offer help for individuals that struggle with the symptoms of bipolar mania. The good thing about it is that you can go there either in the day or night to share your feelings and experiences. You are also able to read what others have to say. You are also able to listen and learn how others are coping with their mood swings. These will help you to deal with your own problems in new ways. You can make friends to share your experiences with and talk honestly about anything that is on your mind. Whether youre online or offline, you can benefit from tips and advice that other participants offer based on their experiences.

Friends and family members of bipolar sufferers also benefit from joining a support group. It helps you learn new ways of offering help to your loved ones who have this disorder. With the terrible mood disorders that come with bipolar mania, it is honestly really difficult to witness a loved one struggle with it. You will understand bipolar better with the help of these support groups. - 16004

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